E. Timor denies indicting RI generals<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The East Timor government denied on Thursday news reports that it
\nhas indicted former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto
\nand five other generals for crimes against humanity, ending
\nconcerns of a diplomatic rift.<\/p>\n
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said he had
\ncalled East Timor's Ambassador to Indonesia Arlindo Marcel to his
\noffice on Thursday morning to explain reports over the
\nindictment.<\/p>\n
"The ambassador explained that the government of Timor Leste
\nhad not taken any decision on the indictment, it was only a
\nrecommendation," Hassan told reporters.<\/p>\n
Aside from Wiranto, Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Lt. Gen.
\n(retired) Kiki Syahnakri, Maj. Gen. Adam Rachmat Damiri, Brig.
\nGen. Suhartono Suratman, and Brig. Gen. Mohammad Noer Muis were
\nalso reportedly indicted.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and East Timor's nascent diplomatic channels were
\nput to test over recent media reports on the general's charge.<\/p>\n
The flurry began with a press statement by the Serious Crimes
\nUnit under the United Nations Mission Support in East Timor
\n(UNMISET).<\/p>\n
It said UNMISET was mandated to, among other things, "focus
\nits investigation" on those persons who were involved in violent
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
"In an effort to fulfill that mandate, the Deputy General
\nProsecutor for Serious Crimes filed an indictment on 24 Feb. 2003
\nwith the Special Panel for Serious Crimes at Dili District Court
\nin East Timor," the statement said.<\/p>\n
The statement said that Wiranto along with seven high-ranking
\nmilitary officers and one civilian officer "have been charged
\nwith crimes against humanity".<\/p>\n
But the United Nations later clarified UNIMISET's statement,
\nsaying it should be read as "East Timor indicts" and not the UN
\nindicts, as reported by the media.<\/p>\n
But the UN statement was further diluted, through Hassan's
\nexplanation that East Timor had not issued an indictment yet, and
\nthat it was just a recommendation.<\/p>\n
"We have an ad-hoc human rights trial, and in fact, the East
\nTimor government still believes in the national process with us,"
\nHassan explained.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the on-going human rights tribunal to
\nbring to justice those responsible for the atrocities in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Pro-Indonesia militias, allegedly backed by the Indonesian
\nmilitary, went on a violent rampage in the capital city of Dili
\nafter the East Timorese people overwhelmingly voted for
\nindependence in a UN-backed referendum in 1999.<\/p>\n
Hundreds died and thousand fled the former province, prompting
\nthe UN to demand swift justice.<\/p>\n
An international court was avoided after Indonesia agreed to
\nset up an ad hoc human rights trial. But the court has acquitted
\nvirtually all senior military officers indicted, and did not
\ncharge Wiranto.<\/p>\n
Indonesia would find itself in quandary if the UN had indeed
\nindicted Wiranto. The move would have dealt a blow to the ongoing
\nhuman rights trial here, undermining the country's credibility.<\/p>\n
A UN indictment could also strain ties with the military.<\/p>\n
Citing President Megawati Soekarnoputri's frequent overtures
\nto the country's military elite, analysts have said the military
\ncontinued to hold sway in the country's politics.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-denies-indicting-ri-generals-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}